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Orthodox Confession
St Peter Mogila, tr. Lodvel, 1762
Part 2, 3. Questions 21–30
Question 21
What is contained in this Petition?
Answer.
First, We do, in this Petition, ask of God that he would forgive us our Sins, especially those which we have committed since our Baptism; as well mortal Sins as all others whereby we have offended God and our Neighbour; by Thought only or by a full Design and Intention of Sin, or by Words, or by Actions.
Secondly, Whereas in this Petition we say, Forgive us our Trespasses, as we forgive those that Trespass against us, now we do hereby engage our Faith that we will also forgive our Enemies. He, therefore, who doth not forgive his Neighbour, whatsoever he hath committed against him, let him not use this Petition; for he may not hope to have his Sins forgiven. Nay, further, his very Prayer will become a Sin, according to the Psalmist (Psal. cix. 6), Let his Prayer be turned into Sin. And truly with Justice, for if we will not forgive our Brethren their trifling Offences against us, how can it be expected that God should forgive our Sins against him, which will bear no Comparison to the Trespasses which we resent to our Brethren; seeing we are daily, nay hourly, giving just Cause for God’s Anger against us?
Question 22
What is the sixth Petition?
Answer.
And lead us not into Temptation.
Question 23
What is contained in this Petition?
Answer.
First, We pray to God that we may be free from all Temptation; but if not from all, at least from those which exceed our Strength. Of these, some arise from the World, some from the Devil, and some from our own Flesh, and entice us to Sin. Again, others are inflicted by Tyrants who solicit and harass the Church of God by erroneous Doctrines, by deceitful Flatteries and Falsehood, by pretended Miracles, by the Allurements of promised Riches and Honours; in fine, by tyrannical Force and Persecutions; by open Violence and Rapine, and despoiling us of our Possessions, and by loading us with Shame and Reproach. All which we woefully see in these our Days. Furthermore, We beseech God, in this Petition, that if we be called to pour out our Blood, or to lay down our Lives, for his most holy Name’s Sake, for the holy Church, which is his Spouse, and for the Truth of the Gospel: That then he would be pleased to strengthen us, and support us with his Grace, whereby we might be enabled to endure and overcome the most unusual or excessive Torments with Constancy and Resolution, and obtain the Crown of Martyrdom in Heaven; and that he would be pleased not to let us suffer Things greater than we can bear.
Question 24
What is the seventh Petition?
Answer.
But deliver us from Evil.
Question 25
What is contained in this Petition?
Answer.
First, We herein pray to God to deliver us from all Kinds of Evil, especially from Sin, and from all Wickedness that provokes the Wrath of God. Secondly, That his Grace might accompany us, and keep us from falling into his Displeasure (Psal. vi. 1), That he would not rebuke us in his Indignation, neither chasten us in his Displeasure, for our Sins; but that we might (Psal. xcv. 2) come before his Presence with Thanksgiving, and show ourselves glad in him with Psalms. In this Petition we also pray that we may be delivered from all sorts of Evil and Mischiefs whatsoever that are hard and difficult to be borne by the Children of Men: Such as Famine, Pestilence, War, Fire, and such like. All which we hereby beseech God to turn away from us, and to grant us his merciful Loving-kindness. More especially we pray that in the Hour of Death he would protect us from all Insults of the Enemy of our Souls, and that he would give us Grace to fight piously and securely under the Protection of his Favour, and the Guide and Safeguard of his Angels. For whosoever departeth out of Life in such a Manner, that Person is happy undoubtedly. It therefore behoveth us, in the highest Degree, that we should all most earnestly ask of God that we may be defended from the Temptations and Assaults of the Devil in our last Moments. Lastly, We pray, in this Petition, that we may be delivered from the Devil and Hell Torments.
Question 26
What is the third Part of the Lord’s Prayer?
Answer.
This Conclusion, For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, for ever, Amen.
Question 27
What is contained in this Part, the Conclusion?
Answer.
This Conclusion is twofold, in the first Part corresponding to the Invocation. For as that makes us hope that we shall certainly obtain what we ask of God as we ought, since he is our Father of whom we ask it; so this Conclusion teaches to expect that our proper Petition will be granted, because the whole Universe belongeth unto this our Father. He is the King of the whole World. To him all created Things are subject. His is the Power, and the Glory is his; which Power and Glory nothing can resist, whether in Heaven or on Earth. He, therefore, can assuredly give us all Things, whatsoever we ask with Faith and Hope; for this Cause only, the eternal Glory of his Name: As it is expressed in these Words, And the Glory, for ever. The second Part of this Conclusion is the Word Amen; in which Word we pray that whatsoever we have asked may be granted unto us according to our Desire: As the Apostle saith (1 John v. 14), This is the Confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his Will, he heareth us. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the Petition that we desired of him.
Question 28
Is this Conclusion united to the Lord’s Prayer?
Answer.
It is certain that Christ himself, concluding his Prayer, which he taught us, ends with these Words; as appears from St. Matthew (chap. vi. 13). And the Sense of them shows plainly that they are no ways inconsistent with the Lord’s Prayer; rather that the Prayer is greatly strengthened and perfected by them, seeing it is That God we call upon whose Power extends over the whole Universe, and unto whom all things are subject. And although lay Persons do not use this Conclusion, that hindereth not, but that in the Public Prayers of the Church, and in private Devotions, where a Priest is present, he should use them for adding the greater Weight unto his Prayer. Neither will it be amiss for a lay Person to use them, if no Priest be present, any more than it would for him to recite any other Part of the Gospel. And it were better never to separate these Words from the Lord’s Prayer, it being evident that the Church orders them to be pronounced by the Priest only in the public Divine Service, only for the Sake of adding the greater Solemnity to this Devotion.
Question 29
Forasmuch as the Beatitudes do very much establish and confirm our Faith, I pray, what be they?
Answer.
The Beatitudes which our Lord Christ hath taught us in the fifth Chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel are nine in number; on which St. Chrysostom thus commenteth (Homily on 1 Cor. xv. 28), Moses delivered ten Commandments, but Jesus, the Lord of Moses, gave nine Beatitudes. And again, The Law gave unto us ten Commandments, but Jesus nine Beatitudes, forming thereby a thrice threefold Crown.
Question 30
What is the first Beatitude?
Answer.
Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.